Dolly for retreading molds and other wheel-like articles



Dec. 21, 1965 R, E, OLSON 3,224,62

DOLLY FOR RETREADING MOLDS AND OTHER WHEEL-LIKE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

FIG. I fg@ 30 [NVE/v TOR A T TORNEYS Dec. 21, 1965 R. E. OLSON 3,224,612

DOLLY FOR RETREADING MOLDS AND OTHER WHEEL-LIKE ARTICLES Filed sept. 24. 1964 2 sheets-sheet 2 JTIG. 6

[NVE/V TOR Rupo/ PH E OLSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,224,612 IDOLlLY FOR RETREADING MOLDS AND OTHER WHEEL-LIKE ARTICLES Rudolph E. Olson, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Paul E. Hawkinson Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 398,893 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-334) My invention relates generally to article-transporting carriages or dollies, and more particularly to devices -of this class which are particularly adapted for use in moving of heavy wheel-like objects, including tire retreading molds.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of `the class immediately above described upon which a relatively heavy wheel-like object may be securely positioned for transportation with a minimum of effort and skill.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which includes a horizontally `disposed generally U-shaped frame, one end of which denes an article-receiving opening and in which frame an article-supporting platform is pivotally secured for rocking movements of its opposite ends toward and away from a supporting surface, said platform adjacent the open end of said frame being formed to define an inclined ramp for facilitating elevation thereover to a cradle formed by the opposite end `of said platform, and in which said frame and platform are so cooperatively arranged and disposed that an article within said cradle-forming opening will engage said frame in a manner to position said article and said platform in spaced relation to the supporting surface in movement thereover.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which incorporates but a minimum of working parts, is inexpensive to produce, and is rugged and durable.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device which incorporates but a minimum of working parts and i-s foolproof in its operation.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a view in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a view in top plan;

FIG. 4- is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation as seen from the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation as seen from the line 5--5 of FIG. 3, portions thereof being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale, and 4showing a tire retreading mold in transporting position thereon; and

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates in its entirety a horizontally disposed generally rectangular U-shaped frame, the opposite side frame members of which are identied by 11, 12, the connecting frame member by 13, and the article-receiving end or mouth by 14. Frame 10 is shown as being maintained in closely spaced overlying relationship to a `supporting surface X by means -of roller elements 15, those adjacent the open end 14 of the frame being preferably in the nature of casters a Received within the frame 10 and pivotally secured intermediate its opposite end portions 16, 17 by means of pivot pins 18, 18a, is a platform 19. As shown, the pivot pins 18, 18a pass through the opposite side members 20 at points offset from the center of gravity of the platform 19 and are received in hanger brackets 21 carried by the intermediate portions of side frame members 11, 12. The offset arrangement of pins 18, 18a serves to normally bias end portion 16 toward engagement with a supporting surface X under inoperative conditions. Overcoming such bias is a torsion spring 22, `one end of which is received in an axial slot 23 in pin 18a and secured therein by means of the nut 24. As shown in FIG. 4, the enlarged head of pin 18a is xed for common movement with platform 19 as indicated at 25. The other end of spring 22 is secured to frame 10 as indicated in FIG. 5 by the numeral 26.

Formed on the portion 16 of platform 19, by means of the slot-like cross members 27, is a ramp indicated generally at 28, portion 17 being formed to define a -cradleforming opening 29. The inner limit-s of ramp 28 terminate in closely spaced relation to pivot 18 intermediate said pivot 18 and the mouth 14 of frame 10 and forms one edge portion 30 of cradle-forming opening 29. A cross member 31 forms an opposed edge portion of opening 29. When it is desired to transport or move a wheellike object such as the tir'e recapping mold Y illustrated in FIG. 6, it is but necessary to position frame 10 with the open mouth 14 adjacent the periphery 32 of mold or other wheel-like object Y. Thereafter, mold Y is rolled up ramp 28 from the broken-line position of FIG. 6 until peripheral portion 32a is received in opening 29. Mold Y will now assume the full-line position of FIG. 6 under the action of gravity with the periphery 32 of mold Y in engagement with cross member 13 as at 3217, and with the end portion 17 of platform 19 in spaced relationship with supporting surface X.

For the purpose of supporting the upper portion of mold Y against undue transverse movement, there is provided the superstructure 33. Superstructure 33 is comprised of the vertically disposed laterally spaced side frame members 34, 35, carried by and secured to side frame members 11, 12, respectively, of U-shaped frame 111. Members 34, 35 are shown as being connected at their upper ends with a handle-forming cross-piece 36. With the above arrangement of parts, one may load and move a mold such as Y or other large wheel-like object in a vertically disposed position with but a minimum of elIort and in a completely safe manner.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have disclosed a preferred ernbodiment thereof, same may well be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device of the class described:

(a) a horizontally disposed generally U-shaped frame, the outer end of which denes an article-receiving opening,

(b) roller means mounted on stub axles adjacent the open end of the U imparting mobility to said frame and closely spacing same from a supporting surface,

(c) a generally rectangular platform received entirely within said frame and pivotally secured to the opposite side frame members thereof for rocking movements of its `opposite ends toward and away from said supporting surface,

(d) the outer end -of said platform being normally gravity biased toward and into engagement with said supporting surface and intersecting the transverse axis of the stub axles and defining an article-receiving ramp which terminates adjacent the pivotal connection of said platform to said frame,

(e) the inner end of said platform adjacent the closed inner end of -said frame dening a cradle-forming opening,-th e outer limit of which is defined by the inner edge of said ramp,

(f) an article within said cradle-forming opening biasing said cradle-forming end `of said platform toward said supporting surface, and

(g) means engageable by an article in said cradle-formy ing opening limiting said last-mentioned movement so as to space said article and cradle-forming end from -said supporting surface during movement of said i frame thereover. l

I 2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said last- -mentioned means comprises the closed inner end of said U-shaped frame.

3. In a device of the class described:

(a) a horizontally/'disposed generally U-shaped frame,

one end of which defines an article-receiving openlng v (b) roller means imparting mobility to said frame and closelyspacing same from a supporting surface,

(c) a generallyrectangular platform received within said frame and pivotally secured to the opposite side frame members thereof for rocking movements of its opposite ends toward and away from said supporting surface,

(d) the end ofl said platform adjacent the open end of said frame Adefining an article-receiving ramp which terminates adjacent the pivotal connection of said ramp in the direction of the open end of said frame,

(e) the end of said platform adjacent the closed end of said frame defining a cradle-forming opening, one edge 4portion of which is deined by the inner edge of said ramp,

(f) an article within said cradle-forming opening biasing said cradle-forming end -of said platform toward said supporting surface,

(g) means engagcable with an article in said cradleforming opening limiting said last-mentioned movement so as to space said article and cradle-forming end from said supporting surface during movement of said frame thereover, and

(h) yielding means overcoming said gravity bias and retaining both ends of said platform in spaced relation to said supporting surface when said platform is in an inoperative condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,536,611; 5/1925 Duke 214-505 1,639,879 8/ 1927 Buington. 2,573,728 11/1951 Pugh 214-334 2,608,312 8/1952 Day 214-334 2,767,016 1Y0/1956 Wood 296-571 3,145,860 8/1964 Graves 214-334 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED: (A) A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED GENERALLY U-SHAPED FRAME, THE OUTER END OF WHICH DEFINES AN ARTICLE-RECEIVING OPENING, (B) ROLLER MEANS MOUNTED ON STUB AXLES ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF THE U IMPARTING MOBILITY TO SAID FRAME AND CLOSELY SPACING SAME FROM A SUPPORTING SURFACE, (C) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PLATFORM RECEIVED ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID FRAME AND PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE FRAME MEMBERS THEREOF FOR ROCKING MOVEMENTS OF ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, (D) THE OUTER END OF SAID PLATFORM BEING NORMALLY GRAVITY BIASED TOWARD AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE AND INTERSECTING THE TRANSVERSE AXIS OF THE STUB AXLES AND DEFINING AN ARTICLE-RECEIVING RAMP WHICH TERMINATES ADJACENT THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID PLATFORM TO SAID FRAME, (E) THE INNER END OF SAID PLATFORM ADJACENT THE CLOSED INNER END OF SAID FRAME DEFINING A CRADLE-FORMING OPENING, THE OUTER LIMIT OF WHICH IS DEFINED BY THE INNER EDGE OF SAID RAMP, (F) AN ARTICLE WITHIN SAID CRADLE-FORMING OPENING BIASING SAID CRADLE-FORMING END OF SAID PLATFORM TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, AND (G) MEANS ENGAGEABLE BY AN ARTICLE IN SAID CRADLE-FORMING OPENING LIMITING SAID LAST-MENTIONED MOVEMENT SO AS TO SPACE SAID ARTICLE AND CRADLE-FORMING END FROM SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME THEREOVER. 